I actually saw a movie.
It was in a theater.
A good theater, and the seats rumbled.

The movie was actually, surprisingly, pretty good.

It’s like winning the lottery.

Little sister wanted to see the new Spider-Man movie, and I was along for the ride.

There’s already a multitude of reviews and spoilers available. It’s also likely that you’ve seen it as well, given the box office numbers.

So, while I have a minute here – not enough time to do anything but just enough to waste, I’m sharing my impressions.

– I didn’t find the spa scene as male objectification. I haven’t seen Thunderbolts or Black Widow and have little context about Yelena.

Given her profession – disrobing to avoid weapons is sound. How the guest reacts provides a good judge of his or her intent. The visual inspection can provide physical weaknesses and strengths as well as a judge on battle scars.

I think it also gives the guest, probably some sort of hero, villain, or whatever, a chance to actually relax in the spa. It can be restorative, and the meeting with Yelena is more positive and information-free-flowing.

— I think it’s a good idea.

* I liked the guy who was the Punisher. I’m not certain if his character was needed for the story – but the actor was great. Although I kind of missed the upper chest. Historically, Punisher’s upper body was built to display the skull. This was kind of hidden.

* Where was JJ?
— He should have been there somewhere.

* The lack of American flags and other patriotic symbols was telling. To appeal to other nations, most notably China, I’m guessing, the American symbols were kept on the down low.

* One of the charming asepcts of Peter is typically his job He delivered pizzas. He did gig work for newspapers. This made the character very relatable to most viewers.

In this movie, he didn’t work. Obviously, he lived in squalor – although this is New York. Even a closet is probably hundreds of dollars per month.

His computer setup was impressive. He had a personalized AI. His webshooters, apparently made from titanium and other expensive materials, were destroyed multiple times. And all that has to be custom made or Peter has to make it himself.

So… Where did the funding come from?

Little sister speculated it could be Aunt May’s life insurance. That is a possibility, but how much would that be? How long would it last, especially since Peter doesn’t seem to have any income at all?

* The timing seems a bit off.
Again, this is a Little sister observation. MJ and Ned graduated from MIT. Roughly, that’s four years.

If I’m not mistaken, Aunt May’s gravestone had 2024 as the date of death.

Did May die two years into MJ’s college career? That doesn’t seem to jive, since Peter was set to go to college with them.

So… ?
How long did Peter sponge off the life insurance, if there was any?

* I didn’t see a tribute to Stan Lee.
I looked. If there was one, I totally missed it.

* I’m not sure how an unregistered student can just wander into a high-profile professor’s lecture hall.
——- That doesn’t seem safe or believable — at all — even if the professor is the Hulk. Students could be killed or maimed in any altercation. Peter shouldn’t be able to just walk in.

* This movie would have been a good opportunity to move away from MJ and towards other options – like Black Cat. This could have potentially provided story opportunities or actually the start of a new life with a new love.

* The X-Men tie-in was expected, as Avengers and most associated properties are fairly toxic and played out. My favorites, Rogue, Gambit, and Magneto, won’t be shittified.

* The movie felt like it ran long.
It could have easily ended when Jean was captured. The push for the extra story is absolutely setting up the next film or films – but the obvious chapter was a bit jarring.

* Holland pulled his weight.
He still came across as a hopeful Spider – but gritty.
As he should be.


But, overall. Much better than expected.
Pleasantly surprised from Sony.